education 18 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Hunger Forces Hundreds of Students to Leave Class at Lira School
Hundreds of pupils at Walela Primary School in Lira are abandoning classes due to a severe lack of school meals, impacting their concentration and academic performance. The crisis highlights the struggle of parents to contribute food under the Universal Primary Education program. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/hunger-drives-hundreds-of-pupils-out-of-class-in-lira-school-5501780
At Walela Primary School in northern Uganda, the midday bell often signals an exodus of students, not for lunch, but due to the absence of it. Hundreds of pupils, like 15-year-old Juliet, leave lessons because hunger gnaws at them. Many walk long distances to school, with meager provisions like mangoes serving as their only sustenance for the entire day.
The school feeding program, largely reliant on parental contributions of items like maize flour and beans, is faltering. For families struggling with poverty and unpredictable harvests, providing food for school is a challenge that competes with feeding their own households.
Teachers report a drastic drop in attendance as the day progresses. On a recent day, out of 674 registered pupils, fewer than 400 remained by break time, with many more leaving before the end of lessons. This consistent hunger is linked to poor concentration, dizziness, and headaches among students.
Academically, the impact is stark. In the previous year’s Primary Leaving Examinations, none of the 19 candidates from Walela achieved top divisions, with only two passing in Division Three.
Despite these challenges, initiatives like the Community Score Card (CSC), part of the CASCADE project, are making strides. The project has provided much-needed desks and improved water access through borehole rehabilitation. The school is also developing a garden to supplement food supplies. These efforts aim to foster community accountability and improve learning conditions. However, for many pupils, the fundamental issue of ensuring they have food to eat remains the biggest hurdle to a full day of learning.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)